In 2023, Maryland passed House Bill 556 (Chapter 254), which did two big things. First, it legalized adult-use cannabis for anyone 21 and older starting July 1, 2023. Second, it created the Maryland Cannabis Administration, or MCA, to oversee the entire program.

Before HB556, medical cannabis was regulated by the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC). The MCA replaced the MMCC and took on a much bigger mandate. It now regulates both medical and adult-use cannabis across the state.

Think of the MCA as the single authority over everything cannabis in Maryland. Licensing, compliance, enforcement, social equity programs. If you work in a dispensary, the MCA is the regulator you need to know inside and out.